Headlines

Christian Heinze

Gov. Christie’s Obama problem

One deeply plugged-in GOP consultant who asked not to be identified in order to speak candidly can easily anticipate a 2016 primary where Christie’s bear-hug with Obama is cloaked in the menacing robe of a black-and-white TV spot.

“I’m sure some of his consultants will freak out about how the bear-hug will be leveled against him,” the consultant notes, “but there are a lot of reasons why Christie would face long odds in running for president; if he does, the bear-hug won’t be one of the top ones.”

It’s true that Christie would face some conservative angst over moderate portions of his record, but the hug resonates on a more emotional level, because the entire nation — including nearly every GOP primary voter — was watching, and because it came just a week before an election Republicans were confident they could win.

But Christie also has his defenders — those who applaud his tour with Obama as a courageous move that will ultimately be validated.

Blowback

Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.

He’s a GOP Ayatollah – a moderate who’s intent on keeping the establishment in place.

Whatever happens in the next 4 years – the establishment WILL NOT be in place in 2016. Watch as the GOP betray you on the fiscal cliff, and on Fast and Furious, and on Benghazi. Once all the conservative slaves have seen that betrayal – they’ll break their own chains and leave the plantation.

Forget the optics. When the thoughts in his head are actually needed, he kneejerked into who he really is. Increasing taxes on those who would be doing the most to help rebuild the area after the cleanup. And 1970′s era rationing. The dude is a liberal that wears an R in front of his name for political expediency. He will just as easily wear a D.

Christie had at best an outside chance at the Republican nomination. Now he has none. Tax hikes in the wake of a storm!? If the Republican party learns only one thing from this election it is that you should never, ever nominate a Republican from North Or East of Pennsylvania.

I don’t get Governor Cartman’s Springsteen crush. When I was a kid, the Springsteen songs I heard made me assume that New Jersey was a barren wasteland, paralyzed by permanent economic depression. I spent some time there in the ’90s, and, while it wasn’t the most picturesque place, it was fine. Clean water was available, people had food, most could read, etc. But they loved Springsteen, even thought he made them all out to be doomed losers.

For that matter, everyone I know from Indiana loves John Mellencamp (I remember when he thought “Cougar” was a cool last name). Similar to Springsteen, his songs would have you think that the only asphalt in the entire state is at the Indy 500. But Indiana is doing fine, regardless of how he talks it down.